Closure for centrifugal extractors



Aug'. 20, 1929. B. E. GETZ GLOSURE FQR CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS Filed Oct. 19, 1927 Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES BENJAMIN E. GE'IZ, OF MORTON, ILLINOIS.

CLOSURE FOR CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS.

Application filed October 19, 1927. Serial No. 227,212.

This invention has reference to closures for centrifugal extractors and it has for its principal object to improve the bearing and its support for such closures.

The invention has for a further object to improve the bearing and its support for closures of centrifugal extractors, such as are employed in domestic Washing machines.

Centrifugal extractors, such as I have in mind, comprise a rotatable receptacle, sometimes called spinners, mounted in association with a washing tub and utilized for the extraction of free water from clothing and other materials washed in the tub and placed in the spinner for drying, by the exraction of water therefrom, due to centrifugal action brought about by the rotation of the spinner.

A closure, rotatable with the spinner is carried by a preferably hinged support, whereby the closure may be moved into and out of engagement with the upper end of the spinner. Such a closure and hinged support are not broadly new.

It is a commonexperience, that although great care is taken in the manufacture of these machines and in the fitting and assembling of the several parts that a spinner may not rotate exactly true; or that the closure may not run altogether true; or that the closure may not fit the spinner true, and due to any one of these causes and for other and many reasons if the clothing or other materials are slightly off balance in the spinner any vibration will set p a knocking noise between the spinner and the closure and sometimes in the hearing at the support therefor. This is not only disagreeable, causing complaints on the part of the users but it soon racks the machine so that it is of little or no value. It is these objections which the present invention obviates.

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this description and illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a spinner, the closure therefor and my improved bearing for such closure, and

Fig. 2 is a cross-section in plan, as the same would appear on the line 22, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows on said figure.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

For convenience in describing the invention and its use, I have elected to show the same in association with a well known type of centrifugal extractor for washing machines, although the washing tub and other component parts are omitted because they are not essential to this disclosure.

The receptacle 1, which is preferably of tapered contour and gradually increases in diameter from its lower to its upper end, the wall forming which is turned outwardly and downwardly, as at 2, is arranged fon rotation by connection with a shaft 3 driven from any suitable source of power. In the structure shown there is provided at the head of the receptacle a housing 4, prefer ably circular in outline having a chambered conduit 5 adapted to receive water cischarged from and over the top of the receptacle l and conduct it therefrom. The top wall of said housing having an opening 6 for the placement and removal of the receptacle 1 therethrough.

Preferably hinged at 7 to one side of the top of the housing and swingable thereacross and away therefrom is a support 8, which may take the form of a cover plate or a bar, as may be desired and which, when swung over and across the opening 6 in said housing may be secured in this position by a suitable locking or fastening means 9, as shown.

To the support 8 is rotatably connected a closure 10, preferably having the form of an annular plate, the .under periphcrial edge portion of which is curved as at 11 to conform to the contour of the port 2 of the receptacle to providecorresponding abutting surfaces when the support is in closed position and the closure is lowered into closing position for said receptacle. This curved edge portion 11 of the closure is also preferably fiuted or provided with passageways 12, whereby when the closure is in closed position on the receptacle and centrifugal action take places the water rising within the receptacle will be directed outwardly through such passageways into the chambered housing 4, as will be understood. The locking of the support 8 will tend to hold the closure in firm impinging relation with the receptacle to rotate therewith.

My improved bearing forms the connection between the closure 10 and the support 8 and includes a threaded stem 18, the head portion of which engages with the inner race 14 of a ball-bearing journaled within a hub portion 15 of the closure 10. The outer race 16, the inner race 14 and the;balls constituting such ball bearing are retained in proper position in the hub 15 of the closure, both by the stem and a cover plate 17. Said stem passes out through the'upper wall portion of the hub of the closure and through the support 8, protruding therethrough and the protruding end of said stem has a tool engaging portion 18, by means of which said stem may be adjusted.

The support 8 has an axial hub portion 19 forming a seat for a resilient member 20, preferably of rubber, which is secured to a central core 21 threaded internally and with which the stem 18 has an adjustable relation.

lVhen the parts are assembled and the relation of the parts properly determined a lock nut 22 is screwed onto the protruded end of the stem 13 to hold the same in their operative relation. This relation may be changed as occasion may require by loosening the nut 22 and applying a suitable tool to the port 18 of the stem 13 and adjust the latter in the threaded core 21, as will be understood.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that any irregularities due to out-ot-alignment of the receptacle, or the closure, or as a result of out of balance of materials in the receptacle, that such inequalities will be taken care of by the resilient member 20 giving and permitting the stem 13 to cant sulilciently to allow. approximate true running of the closure with the receptacle and prevent knocking as a result of any vibration.

Due to the axial adjustment permitted in the stem 13, minute changes may be made in the relation of the closure to its support, whereby a working fit may be made between the closure and the receptacle, when the closure is lowered into closing position with the receptacle, and the resilient support for the stem will allow it to cant automatically and thereby assume an axial position in relation to the assumed position of the closure and prevent any knocking and undue vibration of the parts as would be noisy.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a closure for a rotatable receptacle, a movable support for said closure, a journal connection between said closure and support comprising a stem, a ballbearing between the stem and closure, a resilient connection between the stem and support and provision on the stem permitting its adjustment axially in relation to said resilient connection. I

2. In combination, a closure for a rotatable receptacle, a movable support for said closure, a journal connection between said closure and support comprising a threaded stem, a ball-bearing between the stem and closure, a resilient member forming a bearing for the stem on said support and having a threaded relation with said stem, aprovision on the stem permitting its adjustment axially in relation to said resilient member and for locking said stem in ad justed positions.

3. A journal connection for a rotatable closure member with a superimposed supporting member, comprising a stem, a bail bearing connection between said stem and closure member, and a-resilient bearing member between said stem'and said support to allow said stem to cant and adapt itself axially to said closure member during rota tion thereof. 7

4-. A journal connection for a rotatable closure member with its supporting member, comprising a threaded stem, a ball-bearing connection between said stem and closure member, a resilient bearing member etween said stem and said support to allow said stem to cant and adapt itsell axially to said closure member during rotation thereof, a core for said resilient member having a threaded relationwith said stem, provision on said stem to permit it to be adjusted axially in relation to said core, and a nut on said threaded portion of the stem to lock it in adjusted positions.

5. In combination, a closure for a rotatable receptacle and having a hub portion, a ball-bearing including inner and outer race members and a cover plate therefor, a threaded stem having a head portion associated with the inner race member of said bearing, a support for said closure also having a hub portion, a resilient member in said hub of the support and provided with a core having a threaded relation with said stem, a locking nut for said stem, and means onthe stem to allow torthe application of a tool thereto for adjusting the stem.

6. In combination, a closure member for a. rotatable receptacle, a movable supporting member for said closure, a journal connection between said members comprising a stem, a ball-bearing between the stem and one of said members, a resilient connection between the stem and the other of said members and provision on the stem permitting its adjustment axially in relation to said resilient connection.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto atfixed my hand this 7th day of October, 1927.

BENJAMIN E. GETZ. 

